Double rolling attachment for printing presses



Feb. 5, 1952 o. s. HARNLY, JR

4 DOUBLE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES 3 Slieeis$heet 1 FiledJune 14, 1,949

I INVENTOR.

DA v10 .5. HARNLnJE.

v-WaMa D. 5. HARNLY, JR

DOUBLE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Feb. 5, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 194% IN VEN TOR. 0A v10 .5. HAR/VLY J2.

4 BY (5 [0W v- 1952 D. s. HARNLY, JR 2,584,266

DOUBLE ROLLING ATTACHMENT FORPRINTING PRESSES Filed June 14, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

DA v10 6. H4 P/VL )3 JR- way, it appears that these presses and feedersre- Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 7 OFFICE DOUBLE ROLLINGATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES lng attachment for conventional pressesand press feeders.

Most of the modern presses are operatively connected up and synchronizedwith an automatic stock or sheet feeder, the feeder functioning toseparate a new sheet from the stock pile, pick it up, and deliver it toa conveyor on which it is carried to the transfer cylinder of the press.This cylinder is provided with grippers to secure the sheet thereon and,in most forms, the cylinder is oscillated to deliver the sheet to animpression cylinder beneath which a type-bearing frame is reciprocated.To print a sheet, the impression cylinder is moved downwardly byeccentric mechanism, into a position in which the sheet will contact thetype as it moves beneath it, this lower position being subsequentlyreferred to as the printing position of the impression cy1- inder. 1

The particular presses and feeders for which the invention is adaptedoperate generally in the manner described above, and in addition, theyutilize what is known as a pneumatic feed which includes suction devicesto pick up the sheets and, sometimes, compressed air nozzles to separatethe sheets one from the other. The suction as well as the compression iscontrolled by rotary valve mechanism which includes a rotary cylindermounted in a valve casing, the cylinder being provided with a pluralityof openings arranged to register with openings in the casing. Flexibletubing communicates the suction caps and compressed air nozzles with thecasing openings, so that, as the valve cylinder rotates, the variousregistrations effect the described feed.

In printing certain forms, it often becomes desirable to resort to whatis known as double rolling, which, briefly, is the skipping of one feedon alternate reciprocations of the type-carrying frame, the object beingto obtain a better distributionof ink by passing the type twice underthe inking rolls-for each printing operation. In

printing an ordinary page of words, or the like, such double rolling isnotnecessary, but, when quire the presence of an operator during thedouble rolling, his job being to throw a lever or perform some othermanual job to prevent one sheet being fed during alternate reciprocationof the type-carrying frame. Of course, such manual operation not only isobjectionable in that it requires the constant attention of theoperator, but also it may result in faulty work if the operator is notskilled and careful.

Another characteristic of most modern printing presses is that they areso constructed that when a sheet is not fed to'the transfer cylinder, orwhen a sheet becomes crumpled on the feeder conveyor, an automaticdetector is brought into action to shut down the whole operation of themachine and prevent a jamming-up of the sheets which might very easilyruin functional parts of the press. These sheet Detectors, as they arecommonly known, are arranged so that they may be rendered inoperative bymanually turning a fit it is desired to print solid forms that requireextra heavy ink covering, or for slip-sheeting or' interleaving, theprinting is greatly improved by double rolling. If not used, it oftenhappens that the printed sheet shows a ghosting of type over the solidportion, or there may be objectionable roller streaks. Presses andfeeders of this type are constructed so as to permit this doublerolling, but none, so far as I am aware, permits a fully automaticdouble rolling. Stated in the other knob when double rolling is beingperformed, this being done to prevent the machine from turning off whena sheet is not fed. However, there remains the obvious danger of ajamming-up of the sheet when the detector is turned off, or, as morefrequently happens, an operator may forget to re-set the knob to the onposition after double rolling is completed.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide apparatusfor controlling the operation of automatic presses of the type describedabove so as to effect an automatic double rolling, as well as mechanismwhich permits the 'crumpled sheet detector to be left on during theautomatic double rolling. 7

Other objects are to provide mechanism in accordance with the aboveobjects which is unusually simple, inexpensive and easily mounted on thepress as well as being perfectly reliable in operation.

Thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic sideelevation of a printing press of the typedescribed with the apparatus ofthis invention operatively mounted thereon; Fig. 2 an enlarged plan viewof pneumatic sheet feeding mechanism of the press showing the manner inwhich the double a it is believedbest to describe, by reference to theFig. 1, the stock of sheets to be printed are 'carried on a tray I whichis vertically rec iprocable in frame 2 of the feeder mechanism ofthepre's's. The sheets, one at a time, are picked .up from the pile anddelivered toga conveyor 3 by pneumaticinechanismthatincludes agroup ofswingable suction caps 4 (Fig. 2) andanother group :of compressed airnozzles 6, these pneumatic devices being controlledby valve mechanism,which, as shown, includes valve cylinder I, (Fig. 14) provided with aplurality of holes adapted to register with otheropenings provided in acylir'ider casing f8, Flexible tubing 9 connectscasing Bwith the feedingmembers 4 and 6,and the casing, also, is connected to suitable suctionjan dcomp ress e'd air pumps, this latter connection being throughparallel tubular shafts H] and H. Also, as seen, the cylinderhas a knobportion I2 extending out through the endwallof the casing, the principalpurpose of the knob being to permit the cylinder tobe withdrawn from thecasing for cleaning. In operation, rotation of the valve cylindercommunicates the feeding elements with their p n e umatic sources, thesequence of the communicationsbeing arranged to produce the desiredsheet feeding. n f q 7 vAfter the sheets tobeprinted are deposited onfeeder conveyor 3, they are carried to a transfer cylinder [3 (Fig. 1)that isequipped with suitable gripper fingers (not shown) that hold thesheet to the cylinder. Usually, the sheets are ,carried on conveyor 3 byan endless tape wh ch,

in turn, is mounted on a shaft Moperatively con-1 necte y a. Cha 15 iano e sheila @1115 latter shaft being mechan'ically connected to themain drive of the press. lrdceedingtvith the printing cycle,transfercylinder l3 functions to .deliver sheets to an impressioncylinder I 'l which is a constantly rotating member and, for thispurpose, the transfer cylinder usually is osoillated in a timedrelationship with therotation of the impression cylinder [1 so that thesheet is delivered by the transfer cylinder into suitable grippingfingers of the impression cylinder. The

actual printing is done by passing a type earrying frameZO beneath theimpression cylinder,

this frame being reciprocatedghorizontally 0f the press from a positionnear the feeder to aposition near an ink fountain i8 on theopposite sideof the, impression cylinder and, then backtowards the feeder. As stated,impression cylinder I] normally is carried aspaced distance above thetype, butjtoprint, it is moveddownwardly, ilpon oscillation of thetransfer cylinder, so as to coritact the type asit passesbeneath: it.The ink for the type is provided by inking fountain l8 ,mechanism (not;shown) 1 is proyided- ,so ;that ink is fed to the rolls and consequentlyto the type only when the impression cylinder is moved downwardly intoits printing position. The net result is that if no sheet is deliveredto the transfer cylinder then the impression cylinder is not moved intoprinting position and, also, ink is not fed to the inking rollers 7, I

Concerning double rolling most presses are constructed in such a waythat an operator can manually double roll when desired. In theparticular press shown this is accomplished by rotatably mountingcollars 2| and 22 (Fig. 3) on suction and compressed air tubes it andii, and, by providingithese tubes and the collars with openings 23, 23aand 24, 24a, the openings of the eons-rs being so arranged as to becapable of being swung into registry with openings 23 and 24 of thetubes by rotating the collars. Obviously when such a registryiseffected, the suction ari dicompressed air tubes both are vented toatmosphere and no pneumatic power is supplied to the suction caps and'air nozzles to produce a sheet feeding. Consequently, when the operatordesired to double roll, he simple rotates collars 2i and 22 to vent thepneumatic lines. To facilitate such operation, the two collars'areco'nnected together by means of cross bar "26 fitted into groovesprovided in the bottom of the 'co1'- lars and loosely secure'd threin bypins 28, 23a and a hand lever 21 is mounted onbhe 'of the collars, theswinging of the lever producing the desired collar rotation. I a i v 7One of the important 'f'ea'tiir's of the present inventioni's to provideapparatus which will dis pense with the operator required to manuallythrow leverZ'I, and, also, to insure aproper double rolling. R.eferringto the drawings, and, 'parti'ciilarly to Fig. 4, thisapparatu'sfincliide's a horizontal, transversely extenamg shaft 3"!provided with a collar 32 of a proper diameter to fit tightly over knob12, this knob be ng the 'oruo'nor rotary valve cylinder 1 which'eiitndsoutwardly through the end wall er valve casing 8. Consequently shaft 3is rotatably driven by the rotary motion of valve cylinder Centrally ofshaft 3l, it is supported by any suitable means such as a bearing-plate313 that is mo 'unted on suction and compressediair conduits ii? na uand clamped in position by means of clamps. Outwardly of h earin'g plate33, a pair of clutch discs 36 andj'l are mountedion the shaft, disc 36being keyed to the shaft for rotarymov'ement with it. The clutch discsare detachabiy en- .wardly from disc 31. The arrangement of the discconnecting mechanism is conventional and, of course other suitablearrangements may be used. Briefly, that'shown includes a coil spring lilcompressed hetween shoulders formed on the plunger andwithin the pi n,thespring acting {to I press the end of the plunger into {an opening 42provided f or it'in disc To new the plunger I to enter opening 42,;pin39 is provided with radial slots to receive lugs formed I in'th'e "knobof plunger 33 To disengage the members plunger 38 simply isretrjactedagainst the spring pressure and then turned s'ufiioiently to prevent its"lugs from enteringthesiots of the pin.

To effect theautomatic double rolling, pin '39"lS O positioned on disc3'l tha't, duiri'ngfthe rotation of thedisc, thepin will contact lever?!of collar 2 and swing 'fb'oth collars .farcuatelyfja {sufficient emanate'alig'n openings '23,:23a and 514, 24}; x As stated 'abovegwhen thisoccurs there is no sheet feeding diie tdthefacV'that both feedings, but,since the collar movement described to a non-venting, or feeding,position.

the suction and-the compressed air tubes are vented to atmosphere. Toreduce friction as pin 39 rides over lever 21, the pin is provided witha freely rotatable ring.

Also, it will be appreciated that once the lever has been depressed inthe manner described and the suction and compressed air tubes vented, itis necessary to return'the collars to a position in which the ventingopenings are not aligned, so that pneumatic power will be supplied tothe suction caps and compressed air nozzles. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3,this is accomplished by means of a coil spring 46 mounted in such awaythat movement of collars 2|, 22 and .cross bar .26, produced by pin 39,compresses the spring, .while, after pin 39 has ridden over lever .21,-the spring exerts pressure to. return the collars to. normal, nonventingposition. As shown, thisreturn mechanism includes an arm l-l, secured tothe press frame and provided with apair ofv brackets 48 and 49 whichsupport a reciprocable plunger arm M. The plunger arm mounts a shoe 62which constantly bears against cross bar 26, and spring 46 is compressedbetween bracket 19 and a shoulder 53 rigidly carried by the plunger.Thus, positive movement of collar 26 to the right[(Fig. 3) compresses.the spring, the compression causing bar 26 to return toits normalposition when no positive force is acting on the bar, or, in otherwords, on the collars 2,! and 22. To prevent abrupt and jarring movementof the collars, it is desirable to mount aleaf spring 51 on lever 21,this leaf spring gradually allowing the collars to return to theirnormal position as pin 39 rides over it.

Summarizing this double rollingoperation, it

will be noted that, in one clockwise 360 revolution of valve cylinder 7,as well as discs 36, 31 andpin 39, there, normally, would be two sheetvents the pneumatic lines, once during the revolution, only one feedresults. Of course, the arrangement must be such that, at thisparticular interval during which the pneumatic lines are vented, therotating valve, normally, would effeet a feed due to registration of'the openings in the valve cylinder and casing. Consequently, during each360 revolution of the disc, one of the normal feeds i eliminated, or, inother words,

the press is double rolling for each single sheet fed to it. However, ifdesired, the same result would be accomplished simply by positioning thecollar openings to align with the air tube openings when the collars aremoved to their retracted angular position by spring 46, which, in thisinstance, would be a tension instead of a compression spring.

In such a case, the'retr'acted position would be the venting, ornon-feed, position and pin 39 would function to move the collars Also,it will be appreciated that the arrangement described is adapted for theparticular press'shown, which feeds twice during each valve cylinderrotation. In other presses, it may be necessary to make some minormechanical rearrangements depending upon the operation of the particularfvalve mechanism employed.

A further feature of the inventionis' an attachment which automaticallyprevents 'the crumpled sheet detector from shutting down the wholeoperation of thepress when the double rolling mechanism described isoperating. As has been pointed out, these pressesare provided withmechanism which operates in such away that-if the sheet "to be printedcrumples beforeit reaches transfer cylinder [3, or, if a sheet feedingis not effected, the transfer cylinder does not oscillate. Further, thefailure of the transfer cylinder to oscillate sets in motion mechanismwhich shuts down the whole machine. Such sheet detectors normally arearranged in such a way that the moving of a knob to an on position(Fig. 1) sets the machine so that it will be shut down, while turning ofthe knob to an off position so sets the machine that it will not be shutdown regardless of the presence of crumpled sheets or the failure of asheet to be delivered.

"In the present apparatus, mechanism is provided which, at theparticular time in which, the double rolling mechanism described aboveeliminates one of the normal feeds, the sheet detector is turned to anoff position and the failure of the sheet to be delivered does not shutdown the operation of the press. Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, thismechanism includes a small gear 6|v that is keyed onto the end of shaftl6, which, as ex plained above, is the shaft from which the drive forthe endless tape of feeder conveyor 3 is taken. However, gear 61 couldbe keyed to any other constantly-moving member of the press. Meshed withgear 6! is another larger reduction. gear 62 which is rotatably mountedon another shaft 63 extending outwardly from the side wall of the feederframe. Further, shaft 63 is keyedto a cam 6 3 that, in turn, bearsagainst the end of a longitudinal, horizontally extending rod 66 which,at various intervals, is supported by means of rollers 61. At theopposite end of rod 66, it is provided with a downwardly projecting lug68 (Fig. 1) which bears against a rack bar 69. The rack bar, in turnmeshes with a pinion H which is substituted for the usual knob by whichthe sheet detector mechanism is turned on or off. Beyond pinion H theend of rack bar 69 is drilled to receive another rod 13 which mounts acollar M and a compression spring 16 is disposed between the collar andthe end of the rack bar. Consequently, as shaft l6 rotates, cam 64forces rod 66 and rack bar 69 to the left and turns pinion H'. As therotation proceeds the configuration of the cam allows rack bar 69 toreturn to its normal position, and the force for returning it isprovided by compression spring 16. The arrangement, or in other words,the configuration of cam 64, is such that, at the time in which thefailure of a sheet to be delivered to and during the period in which asheet is being fed to the transfer cylinder, spring 16 acts toreturnpinion H to its on position so that the sheet detector is capable ofdetecting crumpled sheets and preventing jamming of sheets in themachine. It will be appreciated that such sheetdetector controllingmechanism is unnecessary when the press is single rolling, and, toeliminate its operation, the driving connection between cam 64 andpinion II can be broken by removing lugs 68.

Having described the apparatus of the invention and'the presses forwhich it can be used to advantage, it now should be appreciated that theinvention provides unusually simpleand reliable apparatus forautomatically carryinggouta double rolling printing operation, and, at.the same time, apparatus which automatically controls, where necessary,the sheet-detecting mechanism and the presses so as to completelyeliminate any need for intervention by an operator during the doublerolling.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciples, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of my invention,and have illustrated'and described What I now consider to represent itsbest embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, withinthe scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically-illustrated and described.

1. In a pneumatically fed printing press having at least one pneumaticconduit leading from a source of pneumatic pressure to a sheet feeder ofthe press and having a constantly rotati g valve disposed in saidconduit for communicating the feeder with said source, apparatus iorautomatically effecting double rolling comprising a collar rotatablymounted on said conduit, disengageable driving connections between saidvalve and said collar, said connection rotating with the valve andincluding a cam disposed to contact and rotate the collar once duringeach rotation of the valve, said collar and conduit being provided withopenings arranged to align upon said intermittent collar rotation tovent said pneumatic pressure and eliminate one of the sheet feedingsnormally effected by said valve rotation, and means-for returning saidcollar to non-venti'ng position.

'2. In a pneumatically fed printing press having suction and compressedair conduits leading from sources-of pneumatic pressure .to a constant--ly rotating valve and a plurality of flexible air lines leading fromsaid valve to suction and compressed air feeders, said airlines beingbrought into communication with said conduits during each rotation ofthe valve, apparatus for automatically eiiecting double rollingcomprising a collar rotatably mounted on each of said conduits, meansconnecting said collars together for causing them to move in unison, alever arm projecting radially outward from one of said collars, a shaftsecured at one end to said valve for rotation with it and extendingtherefrom to a position near said arm, a disc keyed to the freeend .ofsaid :shait, 'a second disc detachably engaged for-rotation 'with'sa'idfirst disc, a cam :arm extending outwardly from said second disc for en--gaging and-rotating'said lever armand collar once during each rotationof the valve, said collars cand conduits each being provided withopenings arranged to align upon said collar rotation to vent :saidpneumatic pressure and eliminate one plate, saidzplate'zand conduitbeing provided withwopenings :arranged' to ealign upon said intermittentmovements to vent said pneumatic pressure and eliminate one oi heheeieedinss no mal y effected by said valve rotation, andrneansforreturning said collar to non-venting position; and apparatus forautomatically shutting off said sheet-detecting mechanism during saiddouble rolling comprising a reciprocable arm connected at one end tosaid manual control of said detector, arm -reciprocating meanssynchronized with the op ration of said sheet feeder for moving said armin one direction a sufificient amount to shutoff said detector'when saidone feed is eliminated by said double rolling apparatus, and means forreturning said arm to its normal position for turning on said detectorwhen a-sheet is being fed.

4. In a pneumatically fed printing press pros v'ided withmanually-controlled missing and crumpled sheet detecting mechanismandhaving at least one pneumatic conduit leading from a source :ofpneumatic pressure to a sheet Efeeder of :the press and a constantlyrotated valve dis..- posed in the conduit for communicating the reedorwith said source, the combination of apparatus for automaticallyefiecting double rolling comprising a collar 'p'late movably mounted onsaid conduit, driving connections between said valve and said plate forintermittently -moving the plate, said plate and-conduit being providedwith openings arranged to align upon said intermittent movements to ventsaid pneumatic pressure and eliminate one of the sheet feedings normallyeffected by said valve "rotation,

and means for returning-said collar to non-venting position; andapparatus for automatically shutting off said sheet-detecting mechanismduring said double rolling comprising a pinion keyed onto said manualcontrol er the detector, a "rack bar meshed with said pinion, rack bardriving means synchronized with the operation of said sheet feeder formoving said rack bar in one directiona sufficient amount to shut offsaid detector when said one feed is eliminate'dby said double rollingapparatus, and means for return- 'ing said arm to its normal position"for turning on said detector 'when a sheet is 'being fed.

5. In a pneumatically Tied printing press provided withmanually-controlled missing and "source of "pneumatic pressure toasheetfeeder of the press and a constantly "rotated valve discrumpledsheetdetectingmechanism and "having at least 'one pneumatic conduitleading from a posed in the conduit for communicating the feeder withsaid'source,'th'e combination of apparatus for automatically effectingdouble rolling comprising a collar rotatablymounted on said conduit,driving connections between said valve and said collar "forintermittently rotating the collar, said collar and "conduit beingprovided with openings arranged to align upon said intermittentrotations to vent "said pneumatic pressure and'elim'in'ate one of thesheet .ieedings saidione feed: is eliminated by saiddo'uble rollingapparatus, and meansifor returning saidarm to 9 its normal position forturning on said detector when a sheet is being fed.

6. In a pneumatically fed printing press provided withmanually-controlled missing and crumpled sheet detecting mechanism andhaving at least one pneumatic conduit leading from a source of pneumaticpressure to a sheet feeder of the press and a constantly rotated valvedisposed in the conduit for communicating the feeder with said source,the combination of apparatus for automatically eifecting double rollingcomprising a collar rotatably mounted on said conduit, drivingconnections between said valve and said collar for intermittentlyrotating the collar, said collar and conduit being provided means forreturning said collar to non-venting position; and apparatus forautomatically shutting oil said sheet-detecting mechanism during saiddouble rolling comprising a pinion keyed onto said manual control of thedetector, a rack bar meshed with said pinion, rack bar driving meanssynchronized with the operation of said sheet feeder for moving saidrack bar in one direction a sufiicient amount to shut off said detectorwhen said one feed is eliminated by said double rolling apparatus, andmeans for returning said arm to its normal position for turning on saiddetector when a sheet is being fed.

7. In a pneumatically fed printing press having at least one pneumaticconduit leading from a source of pneumatic pressure to a-sheet feeder ofthe press and having a constantly rotating valve disposed in saidconduit for communicating the feeder with said source, apparatus forautomatically effecting double rolling comprising a collar rotatablymounted on said conduit, disengageable driving connections between saidvalve and said collar, said connection rotating with the valve andincluding a cam disposed to contact and rotate the collar once duringeach rotation of the valve, and means for returning said collars aftersaid cam rotation, said collars and conduits each being provided withopenings arranged to align and vent said pneumatic pressure when saidcollars are in said returned position' whereby a sheet feeding isefiected by said collar rotations once during each valve rotation.

8. In a pneumatically fed printing press having suction and compressedair conduits leading from sources of pneumatic pressure to a constantlyrotating valve and a plurality of flexible air lines leading from saidvalve to suction and compressed air feeders, said air lines beingbrought into communication with said conduits during each rotation ofthe valve, apparatus for automatically effecting double rollingcomprisin a collar rotatably mounted on each of said conduits, meansconnecting said collars together for causing them to move in unison, alever arm projecting radially outward from one of said col lars, a shaftsecured at pne end to said valve for rotation with it and extendingtherefrom to a position near said arm, a disc keyed to the free end ofsaid shaft, a second disc detachabl engaged for rotation with said firstdisc, a cam arm extending outwardly from said second disc for engagingand rotating said lever arm and collar once during each rotation of thevalve, and means for returning said collars after said cam rotation,said collars and conduits each being provided with openings arranged toalign and vent said pneumatic pressure when said collars are in saidreturned position whereby a sheet feeding is efiected by said collarrotations once during each valve rotation.

DAVID S. HARNLY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,469,515 Kelly Oct. 2, 19231,974,544 Rowell Sept. 25, 1934

